The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-05
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
The Future of the Jersey Cow.

The spread of the Jersey COW IN the
limited States is something wonder
full, vet quite easy of explanation.
1t needs scarcely to be said that her
popularity is due to the fact that she
meets n a widely felt want and supplies
It As NO other cow has ever been able
to do. In England the Jersey COW
has been, and is, the rich mans pet;
in America she has become the poor
mans friend. But phenomenal as
has been the growth Of the Jcrsy In
terest it has by nd means reached its
full development. Indeed the move
ineht bids fair to attain proportions
without parallel in the history OF
domestic animals. This development
is predicted with entire confidence, bea
cause it is not dependent OH any iin-
natural or artificial ''booniihg," but Is
the healthful product of a natural
: growth:
Differentiation is the process. if not
the law, in all progress. This funda-
mental truth is strikin ely illustrated
in the history of farming in Tennessee
In 1910 the census showed Tennessee
to be the largest corn=growing State
in the Union, in 1850 tho largest hog
growing State; in 1860 the LARGEST
mule=growing State; and there are
good grounds for believing that.
but for the war. in 1870 she
would have been the largest cattle
growing State. Now these different
records were in no wise due to tickle
ness among the farmers or change OF
crops. On the contrary; more corn
was grown in 1850 than in 1910; more
hogs in 1860 than in 1850. In 1910 the
corn was either distilled into whisky
or fat-boated to New Orleans, while in
1850 it was fed to hogs, and they were
driven TO the cotton plantations South.
So in 1860 large part of the corn was
fed to mules, to be sent South also. In
the meantime, every other branch Of
farming was growing rapidly.
More grass was grown, more
cattle were reared and more
wheat sown. All of these changes
were but steps in differentiation: By
division OF labor the progress was
achieved. The movements were all
in the direction of specialization.
Stockmen were coming to be known
by their favorite animals as sheep
men, hog-men, mule-men, Shorthorn-
men or thoroughbred-me OF course,
, after the war we all had to begin at
, the bottom, so far as material re-
sources went, but we began at the top
so far as stock experience went. So
!. that, as soon as we had fixed up our
d fences,' we took up the line of march
i just where it had been left
G off Now, stock-farming is
| great advance upon grain growing
t ! II the keeping of flocks and herds in
!. that 1t requires more fore,hought, the
i exercise Of moro judgment and con
/ slant attention in more details. Bu
g stock-farming itself in the process O.
n development divides into number
v of distinct branches, of which dairy
i farming is the most advanced, because
;. the most specialized. Dairy-farmins
II was unknown in Tennessee before tn,
e war, outside of few small dairie
e near Nashville and Memphis. Nov
J.. The business is fast attaining
e prominence and is not confined t.
). the vicinity of cities. Creameries ar
d springing up in all parts of the State
These creameries are creating de
!. :nand for good butter cows. Nothin!
u meets this demand like the Jerse
g. cow Hence it comes that the Jerse,
" COW is prime factor in this lates
ID step in agricultural progress in Ten
IS reese. Here, too, we find on explana
is lion of the fact that the business c
Is breeding Jerseys has so CONSTANT
"a and so steadily increased in Tennes
IN see.
10 What Is true Of Tennessee is to
e, certain, though less. extent true {
if the most of the Southern State:
IN The growth Of dairy-farming is on
er of the most constant features thu
I'd works the wonderful development (
ey .ail purts of the South, of which mas
ne azines and newspapers are having S
M much to say Of late. And wherever
en- dairy farm is started sooner or late
N. the Jersey COW comes in to take HI
IS. place as queen of the dairy.
se But only respectable minority
ng farmers in Tennessee or elsewhere
y, the United States are specialists. II
of great majority still, of necessit
follow mixed husBandry. This wi
OF continue to be the case for mar
no years to conc. Each such farm
ey has need to keep one or more GOV
IRE for milk and butter, and raises durir
ed the year one or more calves for sal
'us Hero lies the widest field for Il
sh. spread Of Jersey cows. Howev
ne great she may be in the dairy it is
vel the family cow that she most exec
'iai Here she is absolutely without col
on. petitor. Oice introduced she b
ize comes henceforth an indispcnsab
ent member of the family. Until Il
one field is exhausted the demand for 60
Wis Jersey cows will continue. The IN
Md who ought to be benefited by this q
ey. mand. and who undoubtedly will
wis are the real stock farmers who are c
are gagged in the business of breeding j.
ps. sey cattle. To such men, and t
in number grows larger almost eve
nfa o..ol a,